Midsummer Dreams by Alison May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m not big into reading Shakespeare (it’s meant to be watched, not read), but I do know A Midsummer Night’s Dream, thanks to A-level English Lit. It’s not all that relevant to the enjoyment of the book, really, because you can read this modern adaptation without needing to know the original.
I loved the two guys. Alex is bonkers, Dom is so, so sweet. I do like a clever hero. Of the women, I loved Helen and wanted to shake Emily. Really, Emily was incredibly irritating. It’s not until the end that you find out why she’s like she is, and when you do, you can’t help feel a bit proud of her for functioning as well as she does.
The two interlinked stories are good fun and, despite the slightly magical element, completely plausible. There’s a sword fight in a car park which made me laugh out loud. (Voice of experience – do not read this book on the bus).
I should make the usual disclaimers that Alison and I are both published by Choc Lit and she’s a friend. That doesn’t mean I can’t buy her books and enjoy them as a reader too. I believe, when I reviewed the first book in the series ‘Sweet Nothing’ I said the next one was going to be brilliant. I love it when I’m right! Now I just need to work out how to be right more often.
Rhoda Baxter 